A SPECIAL exhibition will open in the Tower Museum next week focusing on the story of Derry’s historic cannon, marking National Heritage Week.
The week is a celebration of local heritage sites and runs from 17-25th August encouraging people to explore some of the fascinating historic assets right on their own doorstep and enjoy a wide range of heritage related events.
It also coincides with the City’s Walls 400 programme which this year marks the 400th anniversary of the City’s historic Walls.
The exhibition opens on Monday August 19th and will run until August 25th, highlighting the story of what is regarded to be Europe’s largest collection of cannon of known provenance.
Once known for their deafening thunder unleashed during the two 17th century sieges, the cannon now have a more peaceful role in ornamenting the bastions and ramparts of Ireland’s most famous Walled City.
The exhibition provides insights into how the cannon were used, lost and restored over the past 400 years and will also display a collection of mortar and cannon artifacts.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Michaela Boyle, said the exhibition ties in with the wider Walls 400 programme.
“The Walls have come to life this summer with a wide range of animation and events marking their historic 400 year anniversary.
“This exhibition will shine a light on one of the most important historic assets associated with the Walls story, and reveals more about the origins of the historic cannon that played such a key role in some of the city’s most dramatic events.”
The exhibition is part of a longer term project to raise awareness of the significance of the cannon to ensure their future preservation. The project is led by Council and is supported by the Heritage Council for Ireland’s Irish Walled Towns Network.
Heritage Development Officer with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Maura Fitzpatrick, said: “While the exhibition is an opportunity to showcase some of the artifacts we hold in the cannon collection, the focus is very much on the long-term preservation and promotion of these artifacts as a valuable historic asset for the city.
“I will also be working on a video detailing their story as well as an information booklet so we can share that story on a wide range of platforms.
We are fortunate that we know so much about the provenance of these cannon so it is important that we preserve them for future generations.”
The exhibition will open from 2 pnm today, Monday August 19, running until August 25th.
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